Comments on: Ride log: Holiday weekend wrenching http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/motorcycles/ride-log-holiday-weekend-wrenching/ Chicago area designer, writer, maker and petrol head Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:13:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nathaniel Salzman http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/motorcycles/ride-log-holiday-weekend-wrenching/comment-page-1/#comment-8160 Nathaniel Salzman Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:09:34 +0000 http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/?p=2269#comment-8160 David, I don't use a lift at this time, but only because I don't have one. I wish I did, and it's on my list of things to purchase or build in the near future. What I did was cut a cheap, wooden kitchen stool from Target down into about 18" and it's turned out to work remarkably well. It's just high enough off the floor to be comfortable, and the perfect height for working on the top and sides of the motorcycle. I just put the bike on its center stand and brace the frame with blocks if I need to pull a wheel. Then with a stool on one side and an upside down crate on the other, I'd switch back and forth from one side to the other to make adjustments or whatever. I spent all day wrenching and wasn't any more sore or tired than I would have been at any other seated or standing height. As for lifts, they're reasonably simple things, so I'm thinking it'll be a welding project once I've got access to that kind of equipment. I've seen lots of simple lifts online that use basic materials like square tubing and angle steel and are lifted either with a standard motorcycle/ATV jack, with pneumatics, or even using a small ATV winch. I've only just started researching that, so I don't have much to share at this point, but have a look around the interwebs and I'm sure you'll find lots of options. If you make a move, do please let me know what you wind up doing. David, I don’t use a lift at this time, but only because I don’t have one. I wish I did, and it’s on my list of things to purchase or build in the near future. What I did was cut a cheap, wooden kitchen stool from Target down into about 18″ and it’s turned out to work remarkably well. It’s just high enough off the floor to be comfortable, and the perfect height for working on the top and sides of the motorcycle. I just put the bike on its center stand and brace the frame with blocks if I need to pull a wheel. Then with a stool on one side and an upside down crate on the other, I’d switch back and forth from one side to the other to make adjustments or whatever. I spent all day wrenching and wasn’t any more sore or tired than I would have been at any other seated or standing height.

As for lifts, they’re reasonably simple things, so I’m thinking it’ll be a welding project once I’ve got access to that kind of equipment. I’ve seen lots of simple lifts online that use basic materials like square tubing and angle steel and are lifted either with a standard motorcycle/ATV jack, with pneumatics, or even using a small ATV winch. I’ve only just started researching that, so I don’t have much to share at this point, but have a look around the interwebs and I’m sure you’ll find lots of options. If you make a move, do please let me know what you wind up doing.

]]> By: David Reese http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/motorcycles/ride-log-holiday-weekend-wrenching/comment-page-1/#comment-8159 David Reese Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:59:33 +0000 http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/?p=2269#comment-8159 Nathaniel, do you use a motorcycle lift when working on your cycles or scooters If so, can you tell me exactly what lift it is, or what thoughts on lifts you have? Nathaniel, do you use a motorcycle lift when working on your cycles or scooters If so, can you tell me exactly what lift it is, or what thoughts on lifts you have?

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